Convertible automobile body structure



June a 1926.

-J. L EDWIN KA CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY'STRUOTURE Filed Jui 2. 1919 7, Sheets-Sheet 1 June 8 1926.

, 1,588,! 17 J. LEDWINKA CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY STRUCTURE Filed July 1919 7 SheetS-Sht 2 I72 rezzzfar June 8,1926. .1,5ss,117

J. LEDWINKA I CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE Boy QWRUC I'URE Filed July '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR (ma/(4 1% XZFATTORNEY' J. LEDWlNKA June 8 1926. I 1,588,117

CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY STRUCTURE Filed July 191,9 '7 Sheets' sht 4 ATTORNEY June 8 1926. 1,588,111?

J. LEDWINKA CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY STRUCTURE Filed J ly 1919 "r Sheets-Sheet s June 8 1926. 1,588,117

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. J. LEDWINKA OMOBILE BODY STR 'Filed July 1919 UCTURE 7 'Sheets -Sh'eet Patented June 8, 1926.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA, OI PHILADELPHIA, PFNNSYLVANIA,'ASSIG1WOR TO EDWARD G.

BUDD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF

PORATION or r'nnnsvnvmm.

PHILADELIPHTA, PENNSYLVANIA, A. COR- CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY STRUCTURE.

v Application ma nl 22, 1919. semi No. 812,486.

This invention relates to convertible automobile body structures.

.The object of the invention is tdprovide an automobile body structure which is simple. efiicient and economical to manufacture.

A further object is to provide an automobile body structure which is composed of readily and easily detachable sections or units of standard form whereby the character of the automobile body may be altered by merely detaching and replacing various units of the structure.

A further object of the invention is to construct the body frame, the tonneau, the front seat, the cowl and the doors of automobile bodies in separate standard forms of units for detachable assembl v "Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a view in perspective indicating the assembly of a body frame,'tonneau, front seat, cowl and doors of a touring car body as separate and detachable units, in accordance with the principles of my invention. 7

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the body frame unit, showing the cowl unit applied thereto.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of atonneau unit, the rear portion of the body frame unit bein indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a bro en view in top plan of the same.

Fig. 5 is a similar view in front of the same. 1

Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are detail views in section on the lines 6, 6; 7, 7; 8, 8; 9, 9; and 10, 10 respectively, looking-in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 11 is a broken view in side elevation of the front en portion of the tonneau unit, showing the application thereto of the rear elevation door.

Fig. 1 3- is a similar view showing hinge connection of the unit. v

Fig. 14 is a broken view in section on the line 14, 14, Figs.'11 and 12, looking in the direction of the'arrows.

15 is a'similar view on the line15, 15, 1g. 13, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 16 is a broken view in side elevation showin a portion of the front seat unit and the loc ing edge of the front door applied thereto.

Fig. 17 is a similar view'of the cowl unit rear door to the tonneau showing the application thereto of the front door hinges.

Fig. 18 is a broken detail view in section on the line 18, 18, Fig. 16 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 19 is a similar view on the line 19, 19, Fig. 16, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fl 20 is a view in perspective of an assembled body with the tonneau unit replaced by a box unit to form a runabout body.

Fig. 21 is a side view of an automobile having a runabout body embodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. 22 is a. view in perspective of an assembled body with the tonneau unit re- The same part'is designated by thesame reference numeral wherever it; occurs throughout the several news.

' 1 It is among the special purposesi of my present invention to provide an exceedin' ly inexpensive but eflicient,strong and dam is automobile body, and m carrying out the principles of my invention I pro ose tdconstruot a. body frame, a tonneau,'a nt'se'at, a cowl, and the necessary doors to make a oomplete body, in separate and inde endent'units of standard form,'and to detac ably ble these various units to form the com lets bodv. By this method of con tionf ,aiii

seamed fi g eat qnom v inthe mania facture, handling and. shippingof complete thus forming a strong, .body irame composed of simple stampings bodies. The various units required to make up completebodies, being of standard form, may be manufactured in quantities and the units may be transported separately and assembled quickly and. easily, thereby increasing the economy well as speed of manufacture without sacrificing anything of strength and security, and enabling bodies to be manufactured very rapidly and sold very cheaply. By makingthe various units detachable they may be readily replaced with other units to transform the automobile into various types of vehicle, for instance, a touring car. a runabout. a coup or enclosed body car, an express. delivery or truck wagon, or the like. thus greatly increasing. at minimum expense, the range of utilization'of motor driren vehicles.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the bod .frame unit. This unit consists of the si e members or sills 25, which are stamped up out of sheet metal, and preferably are channel shaped in cross section, as shown in Fig. 14, the outer surfaces inclining downwardly and inwardly. The channels of these side members present inwardly towards each other. If desired the side members 25 may be formed in one piece with each other and bent into substantially U-shape. the connecting portion 26 constituting the rear end of the frame. Ruitable crossnicmbers 27 connect the side members 25 and brace them. In the form shown the cross braces 27 are'shcct metal stampings Z-shaped in ICILQSS section. the lower flange 28 thereof resting on the lower flanges 19 ot' the side members and the upper flanges 230 bearing against the under surface of tlIie upper flange 31 of 'the side sills desired additional "struts or braces 32 may be connected between thecnd portion '26 of the body frame and, the side members or sills 25. The various parts constituting the body frame above described are secured together in any desired manner. preferably by electrically welding them, substantial rugged which can be easily stamped 'or shaped.

handled, assemblednnd secured together.

The body tram, is formed with suitable openingsilill. which are formed therein in standard spacing relation to receive the securing means foi the cowl. tonneau and trout seat un ts," Also suit-able shouldered seats or depressions The tonneau unit is shown at 35 and con- "face of the upper 34 are formed in thed igq 1 3. The other members upper surtacesoflthe side members or sills cured to the frame body,

sists of a sheet metal stamping preferably formed in one integral piece and pressed to the desired shape and curvature. It desired acurved stiffening, rib 36, see 3, 4, and 9, may be formed in this stamping by stamping out the same. lhe upper edge of the tonneau stamping is deflected or bent outwardly, as indicated at 37, see Figs. 6 and 9, and a reinforcing angle strip is applied to the upper edge of said stamping. This angle strip is formed with a flange portion 38, which lies against-the side suredge portion o't the stamping; also with a horizontal portion 40 which extends across the upper edge surface of the stamping and which terminates in an upturned flange 41. The angle strip not only serves to stiflen and strengthen the upper edge of the tonneeu stamping but it also atlords convenient means for attaching the trim and upholstery thereto. The stamping 35 may, also be formed with a vertic:i'lly disposed stiffening bead 42 stamped therein at its rear portions. At itslower edge the stamping 35 is formed with an inturned flange 43 by means of which this unit member may be detachably secured to the body trameabove described. The extreme forward end portions 44 of the sides ot' the tonneau stamping are received against the shoulders of the depressions or seats 34 in the side sills or members 25 and are thereby properly positioned on the frame unit. This facilitates the assembly of the body. These end portions are bolted to the flange 31 of the body frame ,unit, as indicated at 45. The edge of the stamping 35. forming the door opening is turned inwardly to form the flange 46, see Figs. '5, T and R. If desired, and as shown, beads or ribs 47 are formed in this flange at its junction with the main body of the stamping 3:). This strengthens the portion of the stamping 35 which forms the door openiug. To still further strengthen the flange 4G and to stifl'en'the same as. a post or sup port for the door hinges, an angle strip stamping 4 8 is applied thereto. At the points where thedoor hinges are secured to this post or support the rib or head 47 is omitted, as shown at 49, Fig. 5, topermit the l'iingemember 50 tolie flat against the flange tti, asrshown in Fig. 15, and to be socuredlthercto as, for example, by means of bolts 51. as indicated in dotted lines in 52 of the door hinges are secured to the door 53.

T' Thefrontseat -5 tis likewise formed as a single separate unit to be detachably se and it is formed at its front vertical edge to receive the looking edge of the front door 55. For this purpose the vertical edge of the stamping is formed with an inturned flange 56 having" a stitfening rib or bead. 57 at its junction withv the body of the seat panel 54. To the flange 56 is applied an angle shaped stamping 58. If desired a woo en strip 59 is applied against the inner surface of the flange 56, see Fig. 18, and the end of a cross piece 60 is secured to said block by means of bolt 61 which passes through the said cross piece and block and also through the flange 56 and angle plate 58. This cross piece 60 forms a support for the front seat panel.

The front door 55 is hinged, as shown at 61, to the rear vertical edge portion of the cowl unit 62.

The cowl unit 62 is formed of sheet metal which is stamped into the required or desired shape and is detachably secured to the front ends of the body frame.

In order to convert a body from a. touring canto a runabout form it is only necessary to remove the tonneau 35 from the body frame and replace it with a runabout box panel 63, see Figs. 20 and 21.

Likewise, if desired, the tonneau unit may be replaced by an enclosed body unit 64 to produce a limousine as shown in Fig. 23, or by a body unit 65 to form a delivery or express body, as shown in Fig. 22.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide an exceedingly simple all steel structure of convertible body, the parts of which can be manufactured in large quantities at very low cost. The various parts are made in separate and detachable units which can be easily and readily handled,-transported and assembled.

Having now set forth the objects and nature of my invention, and a. structure embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new. and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In combination, a chassis, a body superstructure comprised of a multiple number of subassembly superstructure units.

adapted to be separately mounted, and a substantially flat body underframe unit in terposed between and interconnecting the chassis and the superstructure, and comprised of the main body side sills and interconnecting cross braces from which the principal longitudinal and transverse strength of the superstructure at large is derived.

2. An automobil body as a selfcontained convertible struc re adapted to be mounted as such upon an automobile chassis and comprising a. substantially flat body underframe unit comprised of the main body side sills and interconnecting cross braces, through which underframe connection with the chassis is made, and a body superstructure comprised of a number of subassembly superstructure units separately mounted on said body underframe in such manner as to derive from the underframe principal 1ongitudinal and transverse strength for the superstructure at large.

3. An automobile body as a self contained multiple unit structure adapted I to be mounted as such upon an automobile chassis and comprising a substantially fiat body u'nderframe unit comprised of the main body side sills and interconnecting cross braces, through which underframe connection with the chassis is made, and a body superstructure comprised of a number of subassembly superstructure units separately mounted on said body underframe in such manner as to derive from the underframe principal longitudinal and transverse strength for the superstructure at large, which superstructure includes a cowl unit joined to the underframe substantially in the vertical transverse plane of the front door posts of the body.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 12th day of July A. D.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA. 

